Etymologically
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vividus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word vividus

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Lucretius
Ultimate origin
Latin (vīvō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈwiː.wɪ.dʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈviː.vi.dus][1]

Forms

vīvidus (feminine vīvida, neuter vīvidum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from vīvō “to live” with the suffix -idus.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan's first source is Lucretius, whom Köbler dates 96–55 BC, and the OLD's earliest citation is from Lucretius, “full of vital force”.[3][4][2]

Semantic evolution

It meant full of vital force, as in Lucretius, and in Livy vigorous, lively, spirited.[2] Seneca used it of lively, vivid language, and Propertius of lifelike works of art.[2] Lewis & Short note that it is mostly poetic and post-Augustan.[5]

British Medieval Latin used it for living, full of life, and life-giving.[6] It survives in Italian vivido and Spanish vívido, and gave English vivid in the 1630s, “producing a distinct impression on the mind”.[1][7]

Timeline

  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it.[3][2][4]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of spirited people.[2][4]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of lively language.[2][4]
  • 1630s – English vivid is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Full of life.[2]
  2. Vigorous, lively, spirited.[2]
  3. (of language) Lively, vivid.[2]
  4. Lifelike.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Vividus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/vividus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·